{"id":36828,"date":"2016-05-16T12:03:02","date_gmt":"2016-05-16T16:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=36828"},"modified":"2016-05-16T12:03:02","modified_gmt":"2016-05-16T16:03:02","slug":"critics-picks-may-16-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2016\/05\/16\/critics-picks-may-16-22\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Nine Shows You Should Absolutely See This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the week of May 16 to 22<\/h3>\n

\"Critic\u2019s
Critic\u2019s Picks for classical music and opera events in Toronto for the Week of May 16 \u2013 22, 2016. [Tafekmusik Baroque Orchestra; Photo: Sian Richards]<\/figcaption><\/figure>Musical Toronto\u2019s weekly Critic\u2019s Picks are a fully curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. Of course, this is not to say we are the provocateurs of taste, but simply seek to provide a good weekly summary. For a look at the full breadth of what\u2019s available in and around Toronto, check out our concert listings in the\u00a0Musical Toronto Datebook<\/a><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s sad that the opera season is over, there\u2019re plenty of other shows well worth attending. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is presenting the Music of John Williams<\/em> under Pops Maestro Steven Reineke. If you are more classically inclined, there\u2019s Dvorak\u2019s beautiful Symphony No. 8<\/em> with Rob Kapilow at the helm. Associates of the TSO is also giving a chamber recital of Schumann, Prokofiev and Dohn\u00e1nyi. For something a bit different, Tafelmusik has an unusual East-Meets-West program, Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House<\/em>. Also on my radar is a preview of the 2016 Toronto Summer Music Festival at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.<\/p>\n

Monday 16<\/h3>\n

ASSOCIATES OF THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA<\/span> | at\u00a0Trinity St. Paul\u2019s Centre. 7:30 p.m. $17-20<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve often heard that many symphony orchestra musicians love to play chamber for its intimacy and economy, perhaps also its \u201cdemocracy\u201d where collaborations among equals are key, in a repertoire that complements the rep for a large orchestra. Associates of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, in its last concert of the 44th<\/sup> season, is giving a recital of works by Schumann, Prokofiev, and Ernst von Dohn\u00e1nyi. This performance features violinists Jonathan Crow and Shane Kim, violist Theresa Rudolph, cellist Joseph Johnson and pianist Angela Park. Full details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 17<\/h3>\n

COC<\/span>\u00a0| Vocal Series:\u00a0Reviens, reviens<\/em> at The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. 12 Noon. Free!<\/p>\n

Two members of the COC Ensemble, Karine Boucher and Charles Sy, are singing two famous song cycles, Ravel\u2019s Sh<\/em>\u00e9herazade<\/em>, and Benjamin Britten\u2019s Les Illuminations<\/em> respectively. The tenor replaces the originally scheduled Andrew Haji, who is currently rehearsing Rodolfo in La boheme<\/em> for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. No details as to whether it\u2019s with piano accompaniment or chamber ensemble on the COC website. \u00a0Info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TSO<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0Music of John Williams<\/em> at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $33.75 -107 (Repeats May 18)<\/p>\n

After the heavy Shostakovich last week, the TSO is presenting a fun show, Music of John Williams<\/em>. Pieces include his best-known pieces \u2014 Star Wars, ET, Indiana Jones, and Schindler\u2019s List among them. Repeated on Wednesday, May 18th<\/sup> 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. More info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AGAINST THE GRAIN\u00a0THEATRE<\/span> |\u00a0A Little Too Cozy <\/em>at Studio 42 CBC, 25 John Street. 8 p.m. $35-95 (Repeats through May 21)<\/p>\n

May 17, 8 p.m. CBC Studio 42. A Little Too Cozy<\/em>, Against the Grain Theatre\u2019s \u201cCosi in 2016\u201d continues this week. I attended opening night, and I can honestly say it\u2019s nothing you\u2019ve ever experienced before. It\u2019s Mozart with more than a twist, way more\u2026. Also on May 18, 20, and 21. Details found, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 18<\/h3>\n

COC<\/span>\u00a0| Vocal Series: Toronto Summer Music Festival:\u00a02016 Festival Preview<\/em> at The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. 12 Noon. Free!<\/p>\n

The Toronto Summer Music Festival is offering a sneak preview of their 2016 lineup. This is the 11th<\/sup> season of TSMF, and the last one with Artistic Director Douglas McNabney at the helm. An article of my interviewing him where he reflects on his tenure at TSMF will be posted shortly. \u00a0No details of the noon hour preview is available on the COC website at press time. See here<\/a>, for details.<\/p>\n

TORONTO CHORAL SOCIETY<\/span> |\u00a0In the City: A Celebration of Toronto at Eastminster United Church. 7:30 p.m. $21<\/p>\n

Toronto Choral Society is celebrating good old TO with In the City: A Celebration of Toronto. The program includes In the City<\/em>, a piece commissioned from Toronto composer Brian Finley, In Remembrance<\/em> by Eleanor Daley, and music by R. Murray Schafer. Alo included are works by J\u00f3n Leifs, Heyr Himna Smiour and Brian Hetherington. Geoffrey Butler conducts. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday 19<\/h3>\n

TSO<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0What Makes It Great?\u00a0Dvo\u0159\u00e1k: Symphony #8<\/em>\u00a0at Roy Thomson Hall. 7:30 p.m. $34.75-83.75.<\/p>\n

May 19, 7:30 p.m.\u00a0 If film music isn\u2019t your cup of tea, don\u2019t miss the Toronto Symphony Orchestra playing the lovely and evocative Dvorak Symphony No. 8 under guest conductor Rob Kapilow. He\u2019s a wonderful speaker and a perfect host of the What Makes It Great?<\/em> Series. Here\u2019s an audio clip<\/a> of Maestro Kapilow talking about this work. More info, found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TAFELMUSIK<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House<\/em> at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $26-109 (Repeats through May 22, start times and venues vary)<\/p>\n

Tafelmusik is presenting Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House<\/em>, an interesting exploration of the musical traditions of two culturally disparate cities in 1740, Leipzig and Damascus. Jeanne Lamon leads the Tafelmusik forces, joined by Demetri Petsalakis (oud), Naghmeh Farahmand (percussion), as well as \u201ctwo of Toronto\u2019s most engaging stage personalities\u201d Maryem Tollar and Alon Nashman. Additional performances on May 20, 21, and 22. Start times vary. See here<\/a>, for more.<\/p>\n

Sunday 22<\/h3>\n

BERKOVSKY AND CHOW<\/span> | Tango + Jazz Nuevo at George Weston Recital Hall. 2:30 p.m. $31-65<\/p>\n

For something a little different, try Tango + Jazz Nuevo<\/em>, an afternoon of Astor Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Oblivion<\/em>, and \u2018Por Una Cabeza\u2019 from the movie Scent of a Woman<\/em>. Also on the program are pieces by Claude Bolling and Carlos Gardel. Pianist Michael Berkovsky and violinist Conrad Chow are joined by dancers Anjelica Scannura and Damian Norman.\u00a0 A short video clip on YouTube<\/a>. Performance details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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